Species Composition and Toxic Potential of Cyanobacteria in Some Western Rhodopes Dams
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ECOLOGIA BALKANICA 2018, Vol. 10, Issue 2 December 2018 pp. 111-121 Species Composition and Toxic Potential of Cyanobacteria in Some Western Rhodopes Dams Ivanka I. Teneva1*, Diyana Y. Basheva1, Tsvetelina R. Mladenova1, Plamen S. Stoyanov1, Detelina S. Belkinova2, Rumen D. Mladenov1 1 – University of Plovdiv “Paisii Hilendarski”, Faculty of Biology, Department of Botany and Teaching Methods in Biology, Plovdiv, BULGARIA 2 – Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, BULGARIA *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract. Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes with cosmopolitan distribution. They are major producers of primary biomass and free oxygen in most of the freshwater and marine biomes on the planet. Under certain conditions of the environment, these organisms can evolve massively and cause the so-called "water blooms". Very often these blooms are toxic due to the ability of some cyanobacteria to produce dangerous toxins (cyanotoxins) with hepatotoxic, neurotoxic or dermatotoxic effects. This determines the cyanobacteria as an ecological risk for the aquatic ecosystems as well as a threat for the health of animals and humans. Climate changes also lead to an increase in the percentage of cyanobacterial blooms. Therefore, the investigation of the species composition of this group in the Bulgarian reservoirs, the tracking of the blooms frequencies as well as the assessment of their toxic potential is of great importance. Unfortunately, such data at this stage are scarce. This study presents data on the species composition and toxic potential of Cyanobacteria during the summer months of 2017 in five reservoirs (Batak, Dospat, Shiroka polyana, Golyam Beglik and Krichim dams) in the Western Rhodope Mountain. During the investigation period, except the representatives of Cyanobacteria, seven algal phyla (Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta, Euglenophyta, Dinoflagellata, Cryptophyta, Chrysophyta and Xantophyta) were also found in the dams. The frequency and percentage of cyanobacteria were reported. A taxonomic list of the determined cyanobacterial species is given for each water body. In addition, a quantitative characteristic for each species (density and biomass) was performed. By using ELISA tests for cyanotoxins we have analyzed the presence of microcystins/nodularins (MCs/Nod) and saxitoxins (STXs). Cyanotoxins were found in four of the studied water basins - Dospat Dam, Batak Dam, Shiroka polyana Dam and Krichim Dam. Key words: Cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, blooms, Western Rhodopes dams, phytoplankton. Introduction and saltwater habitats, in soils, in hot Cyanobacteria are a unique group of thermal springs or in the molten water layer organisms adapted to colonize almost every on the snow surface of the poles. habitat on our planet. Their cosmopolitan Cyanobacteria are the only prokaryotes distribution is mostly due to their long capable of photosynthesis and they are evolutionary history (about 2.5-2.7 billion responsible for up to 20-30% of the years). They are distributed in freshwater photosynthetic biomass production of the © Ecologia Balkanica Union of Scientists in Bulgaria – Plovdiv http://eb.bio.uni-plovdiv.bg University of Plovdiv Publishing House Species Composition and Toxic Potential of Cyanobacteria in Some Western Rhodopes Dams Earth (ANAGNOSTIDIS & KOMÁREK, 1985; 2009 (TENEVA et al., 2009; 2010a, b; 2011; HONDA et al., 1999). Their light harvesting 2014; PAVLOVA et al. 2014; 2015). systems may change according to the Summarized information was provided by available light, and many cyanobacteria can TENEVA et al. (2015); STOYNEVA-GÄRTNER et change their position in the water basin, al. (2017) and DESCY et al. (2018). The varying in depth. Some of the cyanobacteria monitoring of the status of the waterbodies are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen, which is important since the expansion of the makes them preferred partners for symbiosis "cyanobacterial blooms" can leads to with animals, higher plants or mushrooms negative consequences for the biodiversity (CARPENTER & FOSTER, 2002; JANSON, 2002). and the functioning of the aquatic food Cyanobacteria are producers of chains, and threatens the use of the affected compounds with antifungal, antitumour, waters for drinking, bathing, fishing and antiviral, immunosuppressive and other recreation activities. immunostimulating activity, as well as Studies on the phytoplankton in substances acting as hormones (NAMIKOSHI Bulgarian dams in the recent years indicated & RINEHART, 1996). In addition, they can an increase in the frequency of produce as secondary metabolites several Cyanobacteria. Together with diatoms toxic substances called "cyanotoxins". The (Bacillariophyta) and green algae mechanisms of action of the cyanotoxins are (Chlorophyta), cyanobacteria are very often associated with manifestation of hepato-, dominant or subdominant phyla in the neuro-, gastro- and dermatotoxicity (VAN phytoplankton structure at a number of APELDOORN et al., 2007). There are a number large dams, including Dospat and Batak of reports for death of fish, domestic animals (TENEVA et al., 2009; DOCHIN & STOYNEVA, and even humans after using of cyanotoxin- 2016; DOCHIN et al., 2018). Phytoplankton, contaminated water (JOCHIMSEN et al., 1998). which is a part of each aquatic ecosystem, is Cyanotoxins can reach high and dangerous an important indicator for assessing the concentrations in the waterbodies after rapid ecological status of standing waters. It is growth of toxin-producing cyanobacterial included in the control and operational strains known as "water blooms" (FUNARI & monitoring programs and in most cases is TESTAI, 2008). These blooms are most used as the main biological element for commonly caused by members of the genera assessment of the surface standing water Aphanizomenon, Cylindrospermopsis, bodies quality. Species composition, Anabaena, Dolichospermum, Microcystis, frequency of the blooms and phytoplankton Nodularia, Planthotrix (HUISMAN et al., 2018). abundance are the main normative defined The massive development of cyanobacteria indicators used for monitoring and in the waterbodies leads to many problems assessment of the water quality. In terms of related to the water quality. Depletion of the species composition, the emphasis is placed oxygen (hypoxia and anoxia) accompanying on the ratio between the main taxonomic the "water blooms" causes death of fish and groups as well as on the proportion of benthic invertebrates. It was considered that cyanobacteria. The abundance is measured over the last few decades the eutrophication, with the indicators biomass, chlorophyll-a increased levels of carbon dioxide and global and trophic indices. In Bulgaria, this warming are the main reason for the comprehensive approach for assessment of observed increase in the frequency, intensity the water quality started to apply after 2009, and duration of the cyanobacterial blooms in and despite the active work in this direction, many aquatic ecosystems across the planet the data for some water basins are still (HUISMAN et al., 2018). incomplete. In Bulgaria, cyanobacteria and their The current study, conducted in 2017 toxins have been actively investigated since and covering 5 dams in the Western 112 Teneva et al. Rhodopes (Batak, Dospat, Shiroka Polyana, phytoplankton was performed by using an Golyam Beglik and Krichim), contributes to inverted microscope (UTERMÖHL, 1958). For a great extent for replenishment and numerous species, at least 100 specimens enrichment of the available information. This were counted (LUND et al., 1958). The study provides for the first time detailed biomass was calculated by using the information on the species composition and formulas for geometric shapes (HILLEBRAND toxic potential of Cyanobacteria in the et al., 1999). Water samples for chemical and Golyam Beglik, Shiroka Polyana and toxicological analysis were collected at the Krichim dams. Also, for the first time was same time as the phytoplankton samples assessed the toxic potential of the from the same sampling points. cyanobacterial species in Dospat and Batak dams during the summer period. Analysis of cyanotoxins by ELISA Saxitoxins Materials and Methods The water samples were analyzed by Dams description and physicochemical the Ridascreen™ saxitoxin ELISA kit (R- water quality analysis Biopharm, Darmstadt, Germany). This is a TSubject of this study are 5 dams: competitive ELISA for the quantitative Golyam Beglik, Batak, Shiroka Polyana, analysis of saxitoxin and related toxins based Dospat and Krichim. Three of the dams on the competition between the free toxins (Golyam Beglik, Batak and Shiroka Polyana) from samples or standards and an enzyme- are part of the Batak water Cascade conjugated saxitoxin for the same antibody. (Batashki vodnosilov pat), which is one of The mean lower detection limit of the the most complicated hydrocomplexes built Ridascreen™ saxitoxin assay is about 0.010 with the intent to exploit the rich raining ppb (μg/L). outflow of the Western Rhodopes for production of electricity and irrigation. Microcystins and nodularins Golyam Beglik and Batak dams are the main The analysis of the water samples for reservoirs, and Shiroka Polyana Dam, which presence of microcystins and nodularins was is part of the first stage of the cascade, serves performed using a Microcystins/Nodularins as an additional reservoir. The other two (ADDA), ELISA Kit (Abraxis LLC, dams (Dospat and Krichim) are part of the Warminster, PA, USA).